PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY CLINICAL RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM

This proposal represents the renewal application of the Pediatric Oncology Clinical Research Training Program (POCRTP), developed by Texas Children’s Cancer Center (TCCC), which is jointly supported by Baylor College of Medicine’s (BCM) Department of Pediatrics and Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH). The POCRTP is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, clinical research education program to train pediatric clinical oncology faculty to design, implement, conduct, and analyze clinical research trials. Clinical research is essential to advancing the treatment of childhood cancer; however, clinical fellowships do not provide sufficient training in this area. The POCRTP emphasizes a team science approach in which laboratory and clinical scientists interact to expedite the translation of basic research discoveries into clinical therapeutic cancer research.

Eligible Scholars must have completed pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship training and be board-eligible or certified. POCRTP Scholars receive three years of training that includes core didactics in clinical investigation and trial design and an in-depth laboratory and clinical research experience focused on one of the Clinical Research Pathways: Immunology and Cell Therapy, Genomics and Precision Medicine, or Epidemiology and Survivorship. Scholars are mentored by both a laboratory and a clinical research mentor, and receive extensive instruction in clinical trial design, statistical analysis, research ethics, regulatory requirements, scientific writing, grantsmanship, and leadership. Scholars also participate in BCM’s Institutional Review Board and attend national workshops.

Scholars are expected to publish at least one peer-reviewed manuscript related to their project, develop a peer-reviewed grant application, and develop and conduct a clinical trial in which they serve as Chair or co-Chair. Since its inception in 2001, the POCRTP has successfully trained 30 Scholars, the majority of whom are actively involved in pediatric oncology clinical research. There are currently six Scholars participating in the POCRTP; two Scholars will complete the Program this summer, and one Scholar will begin in July 2021. For the next funding cycle, we are proposing several new features to enhance the Scholar’s training and professional development, including a multi-PI leadership plan whereby Dr.

Susan Blaney and Dr. Carl Allen will be co-Leaders of the POCRTP. Additional features include a formal Research Mentorship Education Program, as well as a required Scholarship Oversight Committee and formal Individual Development Plan. We are also actively working to enhance the recruitment of Scholars in medicine and have recruited additional faculty mentors to expand the range of scientific expertise of the Program.

Grant Number: 5K12CA090433-24
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: CARL ALLEN